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EXCLUSIVE: Jodie Sweetin Has High Praise for John Stamos' New Girlfriend: 'We Are Welcoming Her Into the Famil

By Meredith B. Kile 11:35 PM PDT, March 21, 2016

Jodie Sweetin earned high praise for her Dancing With the Stars debut on Monday, but backstage after the season 22 premiere, the actress could not stop raving about her Fuller House co-star John Stamos and his new girlfriend, model and actress Caitlin McHugh.

“I actually met her a couple days ago. She is delightful,” Sweetin gushed to ET. “She's really sweet and we are welcoming her into the family. They're adorable, and we really like her.”

Also effusive on Monday night was Sweetin’s partner, Keo Motsepe, who said the 34-year-old actress is “the best student I’ve ever had.”

“I'm very happy and very excited for this journey,” the dance pro marveled. “It's going to be awesome.”

Motsepe told ET that he had seen Sweetin on Full House when he was younger and recently watched the Netflix revival to study up on his partner. That, and he wanted to see fellow DWTS pro Val Chmerkovskiy’s cameo.

“He was like, 'Bro, just watch and tell me how my character [is],’ and I was like, 'OK, I'll watch you,’” the 30-year-old South African dancer recalled with a laugh. “I watched it and I was like, 'Oh! That was hilarious!' And I saw [Jodie] dancing, and I was like, 'She should be on the show! Give her to me!’”

The Fuller House family will be out in full force to support Sweetin on DWTS. Juan Pablo di Pace, who plays Kimmie Gibbler’s estranged husband, Fernando, was there on Monday night, and more Tanners will be making appearances as the reality TV competition goes on.

“I think Andrea Barber, who plays Kimmie, is coming next week,” Sweetin told ET. “Candace [Cameron Bure] is going to try to make it, but I'm not sure if she's going to be able to because of The View. Dave [Coulier] and his wife are coming, and John [Stamos] and Bob [Saget] -- everyone is coming to support. I'm really excited.”